Interesting interview, - I've heard a lot of reports of tension between Petraeus' team and the PM, clearly the difference in how the two sides view cooperation with the Sunnis; the Americans see it as their greatest victory, al-Maliki as a potential defeat.

Anyway, sorry to go off topic, but I know there's a few Arabic speakers here - does anyone know of al-Maliki is derivied from malik, the Arabic word for King? I've only taken two years and my instructor wasn't sure.

Certainly would be painfully ironic if Iraq's first legitimately elected PM was named King.

Matt